Volunteering For Commencement Ceremonies

As you are aware, our commencement has outgrown what can be handled comfortably in
one ceremony, so beginning in December 2013, we will hold two commencement ceremonies, dividing graduates up based on their colleges.

Graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and
Computer Science will graduate at 9:00 a.m., while graduates from the College of Business and the College of Health, Education,
and Professional Studies will graduate at 1:00 p.m.Both ceremonies will be held May 2, 2015 , in the UTC McKenzie Arena. Candidates for master's, specialist's, and doctoral degrees from the UTC Graduate
School will participate in the ceremony of their college of discipline.

Faculty members are invited to participate in either or both of these ceremonies,
and we also need Marshals for each. If you volunteer to marshal, you are not required
to serve at both ceremonies — although we are certainly happy to have you do so.

Rehearsal/orientation for Marshals will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015, at noon in
the arena. Lunch will be provided.

Participating Or Marshaling At Commencement

To help us plan for both faculty participation and Marshal assignments, please complete
and submit the simple form on this page. Specific requests for assignments will be
accommodated on a first-come first-served basis, and every effort will be made to
meet all requests.

What Are The Duties Of A Commencement Marshal?

A Commencement Marshal is a faculty member who assists with the running of the commencement
ceremony. Duties of a Marshal include lining up students according to their college
and then leading student lines to their seats on the floor of the McKenzie Arena at
the beginning of the ceremony. Some Marshals help direct the faculty and platform
party — Deans of the colleges, the Provost, the Chancellor, and others — to their
seats.

During the ceremony, Marshals line up students according to their college, lead them
to the stage, and help them return to their seats in an orderly fashion. At the end
of the ceremony, Marshals lead students out of the arena.

What Is The Time Commitment Of Serving As A Commencement Marshal?

This May, there are two commencement ceremonies. Marshals are needed at both and faculty
members may serve at one or both ceremonies.

On Saturday of commencement, Marshals should plan to arrive an hour before the ceremony
in order to be at their posts by one half hour before commencement begins. Marshals
remain during the ceremony and are dismissed at the end of it. In all, Marshals serve
about 4-5 hours over the two days.

If you volunteer to serve at both commencement ceremonies, then a lunch will be provided.
Parking is provided in nearby parking lots for Marshals.

In addition, faculty members are expected to provide their full academic regalia and
wear it during the ceremony.